Latching device



Patented May 2 19, 1942 UNITED, STATES. PATENT, OFFICE I 2,283,526 mrcirmc DEVICE Jeremiah w. ubin, Babylon, N. Y. Application August 31, 1940, Serial No. 354,962

(Cl. ss-5) 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to a latching device and particularly relates to a latching device which may be generally applied in connection with the attachment of various sheet metal articles together and more particularly with the attachment of cowls, covers, hoods, and so forth, to mounting structures.

Although not specifically restricted thereto, the present invention may be particularly described in connection with its application to hood or cover locking devices upon automobiles or airplanes in which a cover of metallic or other similar material is to be rigidly attached or locked to a mounting plate or latch structure.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple looking or latching construction of the character described which will be of inexpensive construction, may be readily operated to make a rigid connection which will not permit of rattling and which maybe utilized for long periods of time without In making a; locking construction or a latching construction of the character described, it has been found desirable to avoid connections of such a character as might permit play between the plates to be latched or fastened .together and it has also been found particularly desirable to avoid resilient connections which would permitswinging of the plates in respect to one another or a separation between the plates by further compression of the spring beyond that which results when the device is latched into position.

It is, therefore, among the further objects of the present invention to provide an improved latching device of the character above described which will give a substantially solid connection between the members, and particularly between the sheet metal articles or plates, to be latched together without danger. of play or separation of the plates dueto further compression or taking up of the resilient members of the latching 'device.

Still further objects and advantages will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of iilustration since various changes therein may be 7 made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory to provide a key member with a cross bar on one of the plates held in position' by a ring on said plate, while the other plate is provided with a cam or wedge constructhe central opening for the key.

tion which will wedge said cross bar into a recess, when it is turned into a locked or latched position.

This cam or wedge construction preferably consists of parallel, oblique wedge members with a central recess at the top of the wedges and with the wedge members being'supported upon a flat leaf spring against the plate member carrying the wedge construction.

The construction provided should preferably be devoid of coil spring connections and the key and wedge members should be attached to the plates to be connected together without the use of rivets and without piercing the metals other than at By this construction, it is possible to. attach both the key and the resilient spring member to the plates to be connected together without riveting and by merely piercing the two plates at the point oi connection.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate several of the various possible embodiments of the present invention, but to which the present invention is by no means restricted since the drawings are merely by way of illustration way of limitation,

Figure 1 is a. top plan view of the locking device of the present invention on a somewhat enlarged scale as compared to actual size showing the back of the device with the key in locked position.

Figure 2 is a front view opposite to the view 1 to 5 showing the completed connection with the device in latched position.

. Figures 8 to 13 show another embodiment, Figure 8 being a rear view of the locking device in locked position similar to Figure 1; Figure 9 is a rear view of the locking device with the key turned out of position and with the back' member removed and Figures 10, 11, 12-and 13 are respectively side and sectional views taken upon the lines Ila-lo, 12-12 and Il-l3 of Figure 8. g

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the two devices to be attached together may consist of or comprise platev members A and B, the plate member A carryin'g the key member C and the plate member B .carrying'the wedge device D which is held in positlonby the sleeve E.

and not by er wedge faces 32.

other.

The key member C is also held in position by a ring F. The wedge member D is resiliently supported upon the fiat spring member G.

The ring F is fitted into the bevelled opening ill in the front plate A (see Figures 4 and 5) A which has a reversely bevelled portion II. The

ridges 26 are spaced slightly from the overturned portions 21.

ring has outwardly extending portions l2 and I3 which contact said faces i0 and. II and are heldin position thereby.

The ring F has an interior bevelled face. M into which fits the bevelled head portion ii of the key C. The cylindrical opening l6 receives the cylindrical shank or stem ll of the key C.

The end of the key C has the cross pin H3.

The ring F also has a sleeve extension iBa which closely fits within the central opening I! of the sleeve E. The sleeve E has an outwardly flared head portion II which fits into the bevelled opening 2| in the inside plate B. The inside corner of the head portion is relieved, as

-indicated at 22. The sleeve E has the two lugs 23 form a central boss which abut the central portions 24 of the square leaf springG.

The ends 25 of the leaf G press up against theconnecting ridges! of the double wedge member D, whichiridges 2B engage the overturned portions -2'| of the upwardly extending lugs 28 of the sleeve.

The ridges 26 connect the side elements 29 which are provided with the vertical front or' side edges 30 and with the sliding wedge faces 3|.

In Figure 6 it will be noted that the plate' B carries an additional plate H which may be (similarly functioning parts being indicated by the same numbers and numerals as in Figures 7 1 to 5, however provided with a superior 3), the wedges constituting the element D are curved or may be formed from a tubular member which is recessed or extended at 26 to permit insertion of the end portions 34 and the key C It will also be noted in the embodiment of Figures 8 to 13 that the resiliency of the leaf spring G has been substantially completely taken up when the two plates are means of the key C It is thus apparent that the applicant has pro- I vided a simple inexpensive latching construction The'opposite wedge faces 3| are lower than the non-operative wedge faces andat the peak of the double-wedges ll and", recesses 33 are receiving the ends," of the cross formed for pin l8.

The pin end'portions 34 abut the. mounts which constitute the upper portions of the high- In operation, the key 0 when in a position 90 from the position shown in Figures 1 to 5, is inserted through the opening I! and between the parallel wedge members constituting the wedge structure D,

It is then turned 90 sothat the pin ends a will slide up along the oppositely inclined wedge edges 3| to snap intothe recesses 33 at the top' of the structure D. In this position, the spring end portions 25 will be presseddown into the position indicated in Figure 4 and a firm, rigid connection will be formed between the plates A and B substantially without play and without tendency of the plates which may be readily manufactured, assembled and dismantled and will give assurance of a permanent look when in position.

' It is apparent from the specific illustrations shown above that they have been given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that the structures above described are subject to' wide variation and modification without de-' parting from the scope or intent of the invention, all of which variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present lnvention.

What is claimed is: l. A fastening device for two parts ings comprising separate fastening elements, one

of said elements consisting 'of a double wedge element having parallel wedges on opposite sides ofsaid opening mounted on one part, a leaf spring having a central opening supporting said to swing toward one an-.

Moreover, the Spring when stressed in. the position shown in Figure 4 will not have subs'tanfor further stressing orbending of the spring G V to take place which will permit movement between the plates A and B and opening therebetween.

In the construction t: 2 and 4, the

head of the key 0 is fiush with the face ofthe plate A and has a flllister slot 5..

It will be noted by reference to Figures 3 and tially any play and there 'willbe no tendency double wedge element upon the part on which it is mounted, the second of said elements being a key having an elongated shank and a cross pm at the end thereof to engage the wedges, said key being so formed as to project inside of said paral-- lel wedges and said cross pin being formed for interlocking engagement with said wedges by the turning movement of the key to'detachably fasten said partst'ogether, the resiliency of said leaf spring being substantially taken up upon interlocking. engagement between saidcross pin and said wedges, said leaf spring being positioned 4 that when the lock has been. completed theresiliency. of the spring G will havebeen substantially taken up and the spring will be contacting or substantially contacting the end of the plate Bend the turned up ends 25 will pre closely Parallel tothe plate upon whichit is --mounted and'the ends of said leaf spring being bent down toward said plate upon completion of thefastening and latching operation so that the resiliency of said spring has been substantially all taken up and the fastening and latch formed is a substantiallyv rigid one. without further play because of the looseness of the spring. Y

2.- A fastening devicefor two parts with openings comprising separate fastening elements, one

vent such spring G from cutting; into said plate when it has been fully drawn up, as indicated in Figure 4. g

In this position it will be noted also that the of said elementsconsisting of a double wedge element having P rallel wedges provided with recesses on opposite sides of said opening on one part, a leaf spring having 'a centralopening supporting said double wedge element upon the part on which it is mounted, the second of said elements being a key having an elongated shank drawn together by y with openand a cross pin at the end thereof to engage the wedges, said key being so formed as to project inside of said parallel wedges and said cross pin being formed for interlocking engagement with said recesses by the turning movement of the key to the plate upon which it is mounted and the ends of said leaf spring being bent down toward said plate upon completion of the fastening and latching operation so that the resiliency of said spring has been substantially all taken. up and the fastening and latch formed is a. substantially rigid one without further play because of the looseness .of the spring.

3. A fastening device for two parts having co inciding openings receiving separate coengaging fastening elements respectively associated with the parts to be fastened together, one of said elements consisting of a key and the other of said elements consisting of inclined wedges provided with a leaf spring support, said wedges being positioned on opposite sides of the openings and said key having a cross pin to be moved up over the outside edges of said wedges, and means to connect the ends of said wedges integrally together, said leaf spring being positioned'closely parallel to the plate upon which it is mounted and the endsof said leaf spring being bent down toward said plate upon completion of the fastening and latching operation so that the resiliency of said spring has been substantially all taken up and the fastening and latch formed is a substantially rigid one without further play because of the looseness of the spring.

all taken up and the fastening and latch formed is a substantially rigid one without further play because of the looseness of the spring.

. 6. A fastening, device comprising separate coengaging fastening elements respectively associated with the parts to be fastened together, one of said elements consisting of a key and the other. of said elements consisting of a double inclined plane structure provided with a leaf spring I support, said structure and key being attached to difierent parts, and being received in openings in said parts to be fastened together to permit said key to be inserted to coact with said strucure and to be locked on said structure, said leaf spring being positioned closely parallel to the plate upon which it is mounted and the ends of said leaf spring being bent down toward said plate upon completion of the fastening and latching operation so that the resiliency of said spring has been substantially all taken up and the fastening and latch formed is a substantially rigid one without further play because of the looseness of the spring.

4. A fastening device for two parts having coinciding openings receiving'separate co-engaging fastening elements respectively associated with the parts to be fastened together, one of said elements consisting of a key and the other of said elements consisting of inclined straight wedges provided with a leaf spring support, said wedges being positioned on opposite sides of the openings and said key having a cross pin to be moved up over the outside edges of said wedges, and means to connect the ends of said wedges integrally together, said leaf spring being positioned closely parallel to the plate upon which it is mounted and the ends of said leaf spring being bent down toward said plate upon completion of the fastening and latching operation so that the resiliency of said spring has been substantially all taken up and the fastening and latch formed is a substantially rigid one without further play because of the looseness of the spring.

5. A fastening device for two parts having 00- inciding openings receiving separate co-engaging fastening elements respectively associated with the parts to be fastened together, one of said elements consisting of a key and the other of said elements consisting of inclined curved wedges provided with a leaf spring support, said wedges being positioned on opposite sides of the openings and said key having a cross pin moved up over the outside edges of said wedges, and means to connect the ends of said wedges integrally together, said leaf spring being positioned closely parallel to the plate. upon which it is mounted and the ends of said leaf spring being bent down toward said plate upon completion of the fastening and latching operation so that the resiliency of said spring has been substantially 7. A fastening device comprisingseparate coengaging fastening elements respectively associated with the parts to be fastened together, one of said elements consisting of a key and the other of said elements consisting of a double inclined plane structure, said structure and key being attached to different parts, openings being formed in said parts to be fastened together to out further play because of .the looseness of the spring.

8. A fastening device for two parts having cooperating openings, said'parts carrying a turning key and a leaf spring supported double wedge, the key having portions engaging and looking with the said wedge and taking up the resiliency in said spring, said leaf spring being positioned closely parallel to the plate upon which it is *mounted and the ends of said leaf spring being bent down toward said plate'upon completion of the fastening and latching operation so that the resiliency of said spring has been substantially all taken up and the fasteningand latch formed is a substantially rigid one without further play because of the loosenesss of the spring.

9. A latching device'for two plates comprising i a key on one plate and a leaf spring supported wedge on the other plate, said wedge including two opposite upwardly inclined portions, extending toward each other and circular members to engage said key and wedge and to hold them on their respective plates, said leaf spring being positioned closely parallel to the plate upon which it is mounted and the ends of said leaf spring being bent down toward said plate upon completion of the fastening and latching operation so that the resiliency of said spring has been substantially all taken up and the' fastening and latch formed is a substantially rigid one without further play because of the looseness of the spring.

10. A latch construction for two plates having which it engages respectively, said leaf spring.

being positioned closely parallel to the plate upon which it is mounted and the ends of said leaf spring being bent down toward said plate upon completion of the fastening and latching operasesame tion so that. the resiliency of said spring has been substantially all taken up and the fastening and latch formed is a substantially rigid one without further play because of the looseness oi the spring. l

11. The latch construction of claim 10, said wedge having two parallel elements provided with integral connections.

12. The construction of claim 10, said leaf spring being placed upon a central boss extending away from the plate on which the wedge is mounted and to support said wedge a short distance away from said plate.

I v JEREMIAH w. ALBIN. 

